Ticket-distributer.



Nb. 767,610. I I PATEN TEDAUG.16,1904. o. 11. TOWNSEND.

TICKET DISTRIBUTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

1 zgvfssss" I 6 2 f INVENTOH o 9) fiww I Patented August 16, 190%.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. TOlVNSEND, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

TICKET-DISTRIBUTE]?- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,610, dated August 16, 1904.

Application filed Pebruary 26, 1904.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. TOWNSEND,

L a citizen of the United States, residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ticket-Distributers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus which is designed to distribute tickets and the like; and it consists of a holder within which a continuous line of separable tickets is contained and a means by which said I tickets can be drawn out and separately distributed.

It also comprises details of construction, which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 is a vertical section showing a side elevation. Fig. 2 is an end view and partial section. Fig. 3 is a detail side view of the delivery mechanism. Fig. 4 is a plan view ofthe locking device. Fig. 5 represents a portion of a numbered strip which may be used with my distributer.

In certain places, notably in barber-shops, where customers are successively arriving, it is desirable to know the order in which such customers arrive, so' that they may take their places as fast as vacated, and this is equally true in other vocations where it is desirable to know the order in which people arrive.

It is the object of my invention to provide a convenient means for thus identifying the order of arrival of each patron.

In the accompanying drawings, A is a case of any suitable size and form, which may be made circular or, as in the present case, of an egg shape, having a substantially central post 2, around which is coiled a strip having numbers marked upon it, and between these numbers are perforations, so that a number can be separated from the strip with facility. At one side of the case, and in the present construction in the smaller end of the oval, is located a revoluble feed-wheel 3, so disposed that by means'of teeth or other suitable or well-known construction it acts to move the numbered strip forward and project the end through a slot in the case, asshown at 4. The strip is suitably. guided to the feed-wheel and slot by a channel, as at 5, located at one side Serial No. 195,431. (No model.)

of the horizontal center of the case and to which channel the strip is passed before reaching the feed-wheel. The feed-wheel is also located at one siderof the horizontal center of the case with its periphery proximate to the inner wall of, the latter, whereby the strip is pressed against said wall by the wheel and is fed forward by the latter.

6 is a shaft and turnable button upon the outer end, upon which shaft the feed-wheel 3 is 'mounted, so that when the shaft is turned the numbered strip may be advanced. This feedwheel is normally locked and prevented from being turned by a suitable stop. Such a stop is shown in the present case in the form of a disk 7, carried upon the shaft of the feedwheel 3 and having holes made in its periphery, as shown at 8.

A spring 9 is fixed in the case and has a pin registering with the holes in the disk, so that when the spring is in its normal condition the pin will enter a hole in thedisk, and thus lock the latter and prevent the turning of the feedwheel and the advance of the numbered slip.

10 is a pin connected with the spring and projecting through a hole in the side of the case, so that by pressing upon the pin or button the spring may be raised and disengaged from the disk. Then by turning the knob upon the shaft 6 the feed-wheel 3 can be turned and the numbered strip advanced.

The apparatus may be suitably mounted upon a table or stand or at some convenient point near the entrance to the rooms or at other point where it is desired to use such a device.

Upon the face of the case may be printed words signifying the use to which it should be put, such as Press the button, turn the knob, and take your number. The person entering following these instructions will turn the numbered slip until a number is presented, and this by reason of the perforations is easily separated from the remainder of the slip. The

' person retains this number until his turn is has been found desirableto print the numbers up to twenty or thirty and then commence again at one.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination in a ticket-distributer of a case having a strip with numbers printed thereon, means for coiling said strip within the case, a discharge-opening and guide therefor at one side, a feed-wheel journaled and turnable contiguous to the discharge-opening having teeth engaging the strip and an exterior knob by which it is turnable, a guide located proximate to the inner wall of the case and directing the strip between said wall and feed-wheel said wheel rotating close to said wall and forcing the strip thereagainst, and a means for locking and releasing said feedwheel.

2. The combination in an apparatus for distributing tickets or the like, of a casinghaving a central pin, a flexible numbered strip with means for detaching the numbers singly, said strip being coiled upon the pin, a discharge-opening and guide through which the end of the strip passes, said guide located close to the inner wall of the case and directing the strip along the wall, a feed-wheel located contiguous to said opening and rotating close to the wall of the case to press the strip thereagainst said wheel having an exterior knob by which it is turnable, a locking device consisting of a perforated disk, a springpressed locking-pin and means by which said lock may be disengaged to allow the feed- 35 wheel to be turned.

3. The combination in a ticket-distributing device of a case within which a strip having consecutive separable numbers printed thereon is coiled, a discharge-opening and guide, 4 said guide located close to the inner wall of the case and directing the strip along the same, and a revoluble feed-wheel rotating close to the inner wall of the case whereby the strip is pressed against the wall and advanced, a disk 45 fixed to the feed-wheel shaft having perforations around its periphery, a spring-pressed pin adapted to engage said perforations when. brought in line therewith and a push member by which said pin may be disengaged to S allow the feed-wheel to be rotated and the strip advanced.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES H. TOWNSEND.

Vitnesses:

B. E. UNDERWOOD, J. S. LINSCOTT. 

